Insulator-supporting device.



o; G ETTE. INSULATOR SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED DEC. 18, 1911.

Pa tented May 28, 1912.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE. j

CHARLES e. ETTE, or s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AssIGnoRro ETTE rnvns'rivrnn'r com-f rANY, or s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION or mrssonnr.

INSULATOR-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 28,1912- Application filed December 18, 1911. Serial No. 666,556. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I, CHARLES G. Em, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Insulator- Supporting Devices, of which the following is a full, clear,rand exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to insulator-supporting devices such as are used on pole cross-arms for carrying insulators.

One object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive insulator-supporting device that can be applied quickly and easily to a flanged metallic cross-arm without the necessity of boring holesin the cross-arm.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is so designed that the operation of arranging it in position on the cross-arms causes it to be drawn so tightly against the outer faces of the cross-arm that there is no possibility of the device working loose or shifting relatively to the cross-arm. 1

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevational view of an insulator-supporting device constructed in accordance with my invention which is adapted to be used on a channel-shaped cross-arm provided with tapered flanges; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of said device; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the manner of applying the device; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a device that is'adapted to be used on a channel-shaped cross-arm provided with straight flanges; Fig. 5 is a side elevational. view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention which is adapted to be used on a T-shaped metallic cross-arm; and Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a device that is adapted to be used on an angle shapedcross-arm. I

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the shank of my improved insulator-supporting device which is provided at one end with a threaded portion 1 for receiving an insulator-head, not shown, and .atits opposite end with a portion that completely surrounds the crossarm on which the device is mounted. The device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is adapted to be used with a channel-shaped cross-arm B having flanges whose inner faces tapered, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the portion of the device which embraces the cross-arm consists of a channel-shaped stationary part 2 and a movable part 3 which is preferably hinged at its upper end by means ofa pin 4, bolt, or other suitable device, to the portion of the-stationary part 2 that bears upon the upper edge of the cross-arm, said part 3 extending parallel are to the vertical web of; the channel-shaped part 2 when the device is arranged in operative position. The channel-shaped part 2 is preferably formed integral with the shank A'and is provided with a perforated ear 5 that cooperates with perforated ears 5 on the movable part 3 to receive the pintle 4: which connects said movable part and channel shaped part together. Various means may be used for securing the free end example,-as an integral threaded projection 1 6 on the bottom piece of the channel-shaped part 2 that passes through a hole in the free end of the hinged part 3, and a nut 7 'mounted on said threaded projection and I bearing against the outer face of the hinged part 3. 1 prefer to use a looking or retain-,

the free end of'the' movable part 3 of the 1 device and therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the exact construction above-described.

. of the hinged part 30f the device, such, for

To eliminate all possibility of the device shifting or working loose from the crossarm I have provided the hinged part'B of the device with means that causes the channel-shaped part 2 to be drawn: tightly against the cross-arm when the part 3 is moved into its closed position. Said means consists of a laterally projecting arm 8 on the part 3 that bears against the inclined inner-face of one ofthe tapered flanges on the crossearm and thus draws thetop cross piece of the part2 tightly against the upper edge of the cross-arm and the vertical web of said part tightly against the side face of the cross-arm. The arm 8 is preferably formed integral with the hinged part 3 of the device and is so positioned that it bears against the under side of the top flange of the cross-arm when the hinged part 3 is closed or moved toward the cross-arm. It is preferable to design the arm 8 so that it will strike against the under side of the top flange of the cross-arm before the hinged part 3 is completely closed, as shown in Fig. 3, thus making it necessary for the workman to strike the hinged part 3 a blow so as to force it into its closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby wedging the top flange of the cross-arm tightly between the arm 8 and the top piece of the channelshaped part 2 that extends across the crossarm.

The device is preferably formed from malleable iron or some other metal which has suflicient resiliency to prevent the arm 8 from breaking when the hinged part 3 is being forced into its closed position, and, if desired, the part 3 may be provided with a boss 9, as shown in Fig. 2, which the workman strikes with a hammer or other suitable tool during the operation of closing the hinged part 3.

If the device is to be'used on a cross-arm provided with straight flanges or flanges whose inner surfaces are not inclined, as shown in Fig. 4, the arm 8 on the hinged part 3* of the device is disposed at such an angle that it will exert a wedging action on the top flange of the cross-arm and thus draw the part 2" tightly against the crossarm when the hinged part 3* is forced into its closed posit-ion.

It is immaterial so far as my broad idea is concerned how the insulator or insulators are arranged on my improved device, or how the crossarm-engaging portion of the device is formed so long as it engages the cross-arm on all sides. For example, the device could be provided with a substantially T-shaped crossarm-engaging port-ion comprising a stationary part 2 and a movable part 3* that surround a T-shaped metallic cross-arm B, as shown in Fig. 5, the shank A of the device projecting downwardly from the cross-arm and being provided with one or more insulators of any preferred type. The movable part- 3 of the device is preferably hinged at its upper end by means of a pintle 4 to the cross-piece of the stationary part 2 that extends across the upper edge of the cross-arm, and a threaded projection 6 and nut 7 or any other suitable means can be used for locking the movable part 3" in its closed position. The part 3 is substantially inverted L-shape so that it will conform to one side of the cross-arm,

and the top-piece 8 of said part is so disposed that the top flange of the cross-arm will be wedged tightly between the stationary and movable parts 2 and 3 when the inovable part is forced into its closed position and locked.

In Fig. 6 I have shown still another form of my invention that is adapted to be used on an angle-shaped cross-arm 13 the portion of the device which embraces the crossarm consisting of a stationary part 2 and a movable part 3 of substantially inverted L-shape which are hinged and locked together in any suitable manner, the stationary part 2 being provided at its lower end with a laterally projecting bracket A that 8 carries an insulator.

An insulator-supporting device of the con struction above-described can be manufactured cheaply and it can be arranged in po sition quickly andwithout the necessity of drilling holes in the cross-arm. Only a single fastening device is used for securing the'device to the cross-arm so that the workman only has to handle two pieces when he is up on the pole, namely, the nut 7 or a similar locking device and the insulatorsupporting device which consists of two parts hinged together.

for the device to work loose or shift relatively to the cross-arm. After the movable part of the device has been forced into its closed position, the nut 7 is screwed onto the project-ion 6 so as to lock the movable part. Of course, it is not absolutely necessary for the workman to strike the hinged part 3 a blow to force it into position for after said part 3 has been closed far enough to permit the nut 7 to be screwed onto the projection 6, the operation could be completed by screwing said nut up tight. In View of the fact that the threaded projection 6 lies in a horizontal position there is not as great a tendency for the nut 7 to work off of same as if said projection extended downwardly; and another desirable feature of my device is that the hinged part 3, which is forced closed under pressure, exerts outward pressure on the nut 7 and thus tends to prevent the nut from working off the projection 6.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An insulator-supporting device provided with a portion that is adapted to embrace 21 flanged cross-arm, said portion comprising a movable part and a stationary part, and means on said movable part which is so disposed that one flange of the crossarm will be clamped tightly between said parts when said movable part is closed.

2. An insulator-supporting device provided with a cross-arm-engaging portion that is adapted to embrace a flanged crossarm, said crossarm-engaging portion comprising a movable part that is provided with a member which is so disposedthat it will be wedged tight-1y against a flange on the cross'arm when said movable part is closed.

3. An insulator-supporting device that is adapted to be used with a flanged cross-arm, a stationary part on said device that partly surrounds the cross-arm, and a cooperating movable part provided with means that becomes wedged tightly against a flange on the cross-arm and thus draws said stationary part tightly against the cross-arm when said movable part is forced into its closed posi tion. v

4. An insulator-supporting device that is adapted to be used with a flanged cross-arm,

a stationary part on said device whichpartly surroundsthe cross-arm and bears upon the top face thereof, a movable part that holds said stationary part pressed tightly against the cross-arm, and means on said movable part disposed at an angle to the portion of said stationary part which bears upon the upper edge of the cross-arm and which is adapted to exert pressure on the under side of the top flange of the cross-arm when said movable part is closed.

5. An insulator-supporting device comprising a stationary part and a movable part which completely surrounds the crossarm, said movable part having a portion which is so disposed that a flange. on the cross-arm will be wedged tightly between said parts when the movable part is closed.

(3. An insulator-supporting device comprising a stationary part which partially surrounds the cross-arm, a movable part hinged to said stationary part'and provided with an angularly-disposed portion which cooperates with said stationary part to tightly clamp a flange on the cross-arm, and means for securing the free end of said movable part. a

7 An insulator-supporting device that is adapted to be used with a flanged crossarm, a cross-arm-engaging portion consisting of a stationary part that bears upon the upper edge of'the cross-arm and against one side thereof, a hinged part that bears against the other side of the cross-arm, said movable part having a portion which is so formed that the top flange of the cross-arm will be wedged tightly against said portion and the portion of the stationary part with which it cooperates when said movable part is closed, and means for locking the free end of said movable part.

8. An insulator-supporting device that is adapted to be used with a metallic cross arm having a horizontally disposed top flange, a stationary part on said device that bears upon the top flange of the cross-arm and also against one side of the cross-arm, a movable part having a portion which bears against the under side of the top flange of the cross-arm, and means for securing the free end of said movable part.

9. An insulator-supporting device that is adapted to be used with a metallic cross-arm having a horizontally disposed top flange, apart on said device that bears upon the top flange of the cros sarm and against one side of the cross-arm, a hinged part having a portion which bears against the under side of the top flange of the cross-arm when said movable part is closed, a projection on said stationary part that projects through an opening in the free end of said hinged part, and a device on said projection that holds said hinged part in its closed position.

10. An insulator-supporting device that is adapted to be used with a metallic cross-arm having a horizontally disposed top flange, a part on said device that bears upon the top flange of the cross-arm and against one side of the cross-arm, a hinged part having a portion which bears against the under side of the top flange of the cross-arm when said movable part is closed, an integral threaded projection on said stationary part that projects through an opening in the free end of said hinged part, and a nut mounted on said projection for securing said hinged part in its closed position.

11. An insulator-supporting structure consisting of a metallic cross-arm provided with a top flange whose under side is inclined or disposed at an angle to the upper side of said flange, an insulator-supporting device on said cross-arm having a part that bears upon said top flange and extends along one side of the cross-arm, and a hinged part provided with a laterally-projecting arm that bears against the under side of the top flange of the cross-arm and thus draws the device snugly into engagement with the cross-arm when said hinged part is closed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this fourteenth day of December 1911.

CHARLES e. ETTE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD SoHwmDn, WALTER G. RAITHEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

